Group aims to represent interests of licensed and budding marijuana businesses

Immediate priority is product shortages facing medical patients

Membership prices range from $100 to $4,200 per month

Ben Nelms/Bloomberg

The Michigan Cannabis Industry Association launched Tuesday to address challenges in the medical marijuana business licensing process and the rules and regulations for recreational marijuana businesses that are beginning to be developed.

A new association aims to represent the interests of licensed and budding marijuana businesses across Michigan, with an eye toward ironing out licensing challenges and developing fair regulations surrounding the use of recreational and medical marijuana.

The Michigan Cannabis Industry Association was launched Tuesday to create a unified voice and develop equitable rules for consumers and businesses, according to Josh Hovey, communications director at the newly-formed 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

MCIA plans to host conferences and seminars, provide professional development opportunities and help marijuana businesses navigate foggy rules and regulations.

In November, voters approved Proposal 18-1, making Michigan the first state in the Midwest to legalize use of recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older. The state is now working to form a licensing system for marijuana businesses, such as growers and dispensaries, but municipalities can still block businesses from operating in their communities.

"The most immediate priority is address the product shortages that medical patients are facing right now. The most recent shutdown has really put medical patients in a bind in terms of access to their medicine," Hovey said, referring to the end of an injunction approved by Court of Claims Judge Stephen Borrello in September that prevented nearly 100 marijuana dispensaries from closing due to new licensing rules.

"Our first priority is working with the state to quickly address the shortages and ensure that the licensing process is improved so that this doesn't happen in the future," he added.

Depending on the size of the business and the level interest in supporting the industry, membership prices can range from $100 to $4,200 per month, Hovey said. Perks include listings in a MCIA member directory, complimentary tickets to MCIA events, exclusive access to MCIA conference calls and strategy sessions, group insurance discounts and more. Licensed marijuana companies, businesses that serve the marijuana industry and those seeking to start a marijuana business can register, Hovey said.

Thus far, the association has 30 members, and operating funds will come from membership dues, according to Hovey. It will have 13 members on its executive board, who have yet to be announced.

The nonprofit aims to serve as a resource to policy makers, testify in the Legislature and provide best practices and research from other states that are legalized, Hovey said.

"Michigan has an opportunity to become a national leader in developing a successful and responsible cannabis industry and the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association will bring all aspects of the state's newly emerging cannabis industry together to speak as a united voice," Robin Schneider, executive director at MCIA, said in a written statement.

- Editor's Note: This story has been edited to correct the description of the shutdown in a quotation from Hovey.